Relief valve for deep wells



Feb. 16 1926,

s. s. SWAIM' RELIEF VALVE FOR-DEEP WELLS Filed June l I l l l l I l l l l Patented Feb. 16, 1926.

CHARLES S. SWAIM, OF LONG- IBEACH, CALIFORNIA.

RELIEF VALVE FOR DEEP WELLS.

Application filed June 30, 1925. Serial No. 40,707.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GHAnLns S. SWAIM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Long Beach, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRelief Valves for Deep Veils, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to relief valves for deep wells and more particularly to a relief valve for oil wells which often have adepth of three to five thousand feet.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character whlch will be distributed, a portion of the weight of the oil being hoisted from the well along the length of line of sucker rodswhich is employed for operating the pump at the bottom of the well and which may be readily attached to the sucker rods of the pump.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved means for attaching such a device or other apparatus which it is desired to employ within a well and to support from the sucker rod line to the sucker rods. I j

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional'v ew showing valve mechanism constructed 1n accord ance with my invention; V

Figure 2 is a section onthe line 2'2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective of one of the valve elements; and

Figure 4 is a perspective of one of the yoke sections.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the ordinary sucker rod employed in. oil wells. These sucker rods are each provided at one end with a pin 11 and. at the opposite end thereof with a box 12. Each end of the rod adjacent the pin 1.1 or box 12 has an enlargement 18, a portion of which is squared, as at 1%, for the reception of a wrench. In accordance with my invention, I provide a yoke formed in two similar sections 15 and 16, each provided with one-half of a bore 17 receiving and fitting the sucker rod 10,

one end of the bore being enlarged and shaped to confo lli tfitheshaping of the 'eter of the portion 20 of the enlargement l3 and the wrench square 14, as indicated at 18 and 1 9 respectively. These sectlons, when assembled about a rod, provide athreaded cylindrical stem portion 20 to which a nut of suitable character may be applied to hold the sections in assembled relation about the sucker. rod, the diameter of this cylindrical threaded section being greater than the greatest diameter of the sucker rod so that there is no trouble in passing the retaining element, generally designated at 21, over the end of the rod.

:ln accordancewith the present invention, this retaining element 21 is in the form of a bowl, the upper portion 22 of which has a diameter greater than the external diamyoke. The threaded portion 23 of the bowl which engages the threaded portion 20 of the yoke is of less length than such threaded portion so that the upper end of the threaded portron QOprojects into the enlarged diameter of the bowl. The wall of the bowl, at circumferentially spaced points, is provided with pairs of inwardly extending lugs 24, the inner faces of which are arranged upon the approximate diameter of the yoke sec- U011 20, these lugs being arranged at a point upon the wall of the enlarged bore of the bowl spaced from the lower end of the bowl a distance less than the length of the portron 20 of the yoke and vertically spaced from the upwardly facing shoulder 25 formed-by the enlargement of the bore of the bowl.

Valve elements26 are provided, each preferably semi-cylindricalin form and having a stem portion27, the lower end of which is provided with a foot 28 of greater width than the distance between adjacent faces of the lugs of each pair, the stem portion being of such width that itmay be inserted between. the lugs of the pair so that the valve elements, when placed in position, are held between the lugs and are prevented from as caping by the opposed portion 20 of the yoke when the bowl is in position. The up-- per end of each valve element projects above the upper end of the bowl and has secured to its outer surface a packing elen1ent29 which, when the upper end of the valve ele ment is in its outermost position and has its outer face abutted against the inner: face of the bowl, engages against the wall of the tubing 30 in which the sucker rods are operating to effect a seal therewith; The upp r extremity of the valve elementis flared out pump element moves upwardly and the sucker rods move therewith, the upward moven'ient of the valves through the oil will cause the elements to be drawn outwardly to bring the packing 29 thereof into engagement with the walls of the tubing to effect a partial seal therewith. There will be,-o1t course, a slight leakage of oil past thesva ves but therewill be the tendency on the part of these valves to support a portionoi' the weight above the'valve and prevent the entire weight of this oil being supported l'ronithe piston'of the pump. As the pump element mov s downwardly,the valve elements may swing inwardly to permit passage of the oil to a'point above this element. 7 v

From the foregoing, it is believed to be obvious that I have provided a valve for the purpose specified, which may be very readily attached to the sucker rod line or removed therefrom and which, at the same time, may be relatively cheaply produced. It will also be obvious that the method of mounting the valves upon the sucker rod may be applied to other elements which it may be desired to attach tothe sucker rod and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the use of this attaching element in the particular manner described.

I claim i 1. In combination with a sucker rod having anenlargement provided with a wrench square, a two part yoke adapted to be [assembled about and lit "the sucker roclancl the enlargement and wrench square and when tion. i v M 2. In combination with a sucker rod havmg an enlargement provided with a wrench square, a two part yoke adapted to be assembled about and fit the sucker rod and the enlargement and wrench square and when in its assembled relation held against rotation'with relation to the sucker rod by such wrench square, the yoke, when assembled relation, presentinga cylindrical threaded portion of greater diameter than the greatest diameter of the sucker rod and a retaining element threaded upon such cylindrical portion.

3. In combination with a sucker rod havingan enlargementprovided with a'wren'ch square, a two part yokeadapted to be as semble'd about and fit the sucker rod and the enl'argement'and wrencli square and 1 en in its assembled relation held against th eam-a he sake" by such wrench square, the yoke, when in assembled relation, presenting a cylindrical threaded portion of greater diameter than the greatest diameter of the sucker rod and a retaining element threaded upon such cylindrical portion, a plurality of valve elements pivoted to such retaining element and each having packing for engagement with the walls of a tubing through which the suckerrod is operated, said valve elements being capable of a restricted movement toward and away from the walls of the' tubing, and when in their outward position substantially sealing the space .about the sucker rod. I

4i. In combination with a sucker rod having an enlargement provided with a wrench square, a two part yoke adapted to be as-' sembled about and 'fit the sucker rod and the enlargement and wrench square and when in its assembled relation held against rotation with relation 'tozthe sucker rod by such wrench square, the yoke, when'in as- Qsembled relation, presenting 'a cylindrical t-hre'aded'portion of greater diameter than the greatest diameter of thesucker rod and a retaining element threaded upon such cylindrical portion, said retaining element comprising a bowl the upper end of which has an enlarged bore and projects above the upper end of the cylindrical threaded portion of the yoke, a plurality of valve elements engaged with the inner wall of the bowl andunremovable from the bowl while the bowl is inapplied position upon the yoke, the upper ends of said valve element-sprojecting above the upper ends of the bowl and each having an outwardly extending shoulder overlying the upper end of the bowl and packing carried by said valve elements for engagement with the wall of the tubing in which said sucker rod is operated. f

' 5. In combination with a sucker rod having an enlargement provided with a wrench square, a'two part yoke adapted to be as sembled about and fit the sucker rod and the enlargement and wrench square and when in its assembled relation held against rotation with relation to the sucker rod by such wrench square, the yoke, when in assembled relation, presenting a cylindrical threaded portion of greater diameter than the greatest'diameter of the sucker rod and a retaining element threaded upon such cylindricalip ortion, said'retai'ning element comprising a bowl the upper end 01" which has an enlarged. bore and projects above the upperend of the cylindrical threaded portion of the yoke, a plurality of valve elements engaged with the inner wall of the bowl and unr emovable itrom the bowl while the bowl is in applied position uponthe,

amam upperfe'nds of said i alveelements projecting above the upper end of tn'e owl Cir shoulder overlying the upper end of the bowl and packing carried by said valve elements for engagement with the Wall of the tubing inwvhich said sucker rod is operated, the upper faces of the valve elements being beveled outwardly and upwardly.

6. In combination with a sucker rod having an enlargen'ient provided With a Wrench square, a t'vo part yoke adapted to be assembled about and lit the sucker rod and the enlargement and Wrench square and when in its assembled relation held against rotation with relation to the sucker rod by such \Tl'GIlCh square, the yoke, when in assembled relation, presenting a cylindrical threaded portion oi greater diameter than the greatest diameter of the sucker rod and a retaining element threaded upon said cylindrical poreach havin a stem aro'eetin within the" bore and between the yoke and the lower end of the Wall of the enlarged bore, the Wall of the bore having outstanding lugs arranged in pairs, the stems of the valves each having at their lower ends a head for engagement beneath the lugs.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aihx my signature.

CHARLES S. SWAIM. 

